Chrysanthemum plant named Hartmann&#39;s Dignity

ABSTRACT

A new white chrysanthemum selection of the standard chrysanthemum variety &#34;Dignity&#34; (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,309) particularly distinguished by its 2 to 4 day earlier flowering response, reflexing of ray florets upon reaching full maturation and averaging about 15% larger in bloom size when compared with the variety &#34;Dignity&#34;.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

This new chrysanthemum was observed in July 1975 in a field of the standard chrysanthemum variety Dignity growing at Kirkwood, Mo., and was selected for propagation and test because of its early response compared with the Dignity plants with which it was growing.

Year around flowering of plants propagated at Kirkwood, Mo., by cuttings from the original plant and clones thereof has demonstrated that the distinctive characteristics of this new plant hold true from generation to generation and appear to be firmly fixed. This new plant has been and is now being propagated by vegetative cuttings at Kirkwood, Mo., West Chicago, Ill., and at Cortez, Fla., and its distinctive characteristics continue to hold true.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new chrysanthemum plant is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which sheet one shows two views comparing blooms of the new plant and the variety Dignity, both plants having been placed under short day photoperiodic conditions on the same date thus displaying the time difference in bloom development,

FIG. 1 showing the flowers when Dignity was newly opened, the flower at the left being that of the new plant, and

FIG. 2 showing the flowers when the new plant, shown at the right, reached full bloom; and sheet two showing typical leaves of the new plant at three stages of maturity.

FIG. 3, right view, shows the reflexed ray florets of the mature bloom of the instant variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a description of my new chrysanthemum selection, the color designations stated being according to the R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

THE PLANT

Origin: A selection from a field of the variety Dignity (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,309) growing under glass at Kirkwood, Mo.

Classification:

Botanic.--Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Commercial.--Standard incurved greenhouse cut flower.

Form: Perennial herbaceous upright bush.

Height: 40 to 48 inches when provided with 3 weeks of long-day photoperiodic treatment and optimum growing conditions.

Growth: Vigorous and sturdy with very good strength.

Branching: Normal, under natural conditions.

Foliage: Abundant, 7 to 9 leaves per 10 inches of stem.

Leaf Size.--Length -- About 53/8 to 8 inches. Width -- About 27/8 to 5 inches.

Shape.--Lobed, lanceolate and deeply serrated.

Appearance.--Canescent.

Venation.--Pinnate.

Color.--Upper side -- Yellow-Green 147A. Under side -- Yellow-Green 147B.

petioles.--About 3/4 to 11/2 inches long.

THE BUD

Form: Globular.

Size:

Diameter.--About 5/8 to 3/4 inch.

Depth.--About 3/8 to 1/2 inch.

Opening Rate: Slow.

Color:

When phyllaries first divide.--Yellow-Green 144B.

when florets begin to unfurl.--Yellow 2D, 6D.

Phyllaries: The outside of the receptacle bears many involucral bracts.

Shape: Spear-shaped.

Surface Texture: Pubescent.

Color:

Inside.--Yellow-Green 146A.

outside.--Yellow-Green 148A.

Peduncle: Erect. About 3/4 to 21/2 inches long and with pubescent surface texture.

THE FLOWER

Blooming Period: Year around with photoperiod control.

Response: 9 week. Flower maturation occurs about 59 to 63 days after initiation of short-day photoperiodic treatment.

Natural Season Flowering: About October 27 to November 4.

Flower Type: Composite and incurved standard.

Borne: As a head of many florets on a receptacle; naturally raceme -- singly when disbudded.

Size: Very large when fully opened.

Diameter.--About 51/4 to 61/2 inches.

Depth.--About 31/4 to 5 inches.

Shape: Flat when bloom first opens becoming more globular as bloom matures.

Petalage: Florets are numerous with capitulum arrangement.

Form.--Linear and incurved with obtuse apex.

Texture.--Soft.

Appearance.--Very slight shine.

Color.--Outer florets -- Upper and reverse sides White 155B at all seasons. Inside florets -- Upper and reverse sides Yellow 2D at all seasons.

Discoloration After Full Bloom.--None.

Peduncle: Length -- About 3/4 to 21/2 inches long.

Strength.--Sturdy and upright.

Color.--Yellow-Green 147C

Persistence: Florets hang on and dry.

Fragrance: Typical chrysanthemum.

Lasting Quality:

On plant.--3 weeks.

As cut flower.--10 to 14 days.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens: Syngenesious and 5 in number.

Anthers.--Arrangement -- Connate.

Filaments.--About 1/16 to 1/8 inch long.

Color.--Light Yellow.

Pollen.--Color -- Yellow.

Pistils: One to each ray and disc floret.

Styles.--About 1/8 to 3/16 inch long.

Stigmas.--Yellow in color.

Ovaries.--Inferior and bicarpellate.

This chrysanthemum selection of the standard chrysanthemum variety Dignity is distinguished by its consistent several days earlier response and shorter internodes or stem length from leaf to leaf.

The following table is based upon observations of greenhouse plants bloomed during mid-Spring of 1978.

    ______________________________________                                                Dignity     Hartmann's Early Dignity                                    ______________________________________                                         Bud                                                                            Diameter:                                                                               5/8 inch      about 3/4 inch                                          Depth:   3/8 inch      3/8 to 1/2 inch                                         Opening: slowly        slowly                                                  Color:   155B          155B                                                    Flowering                                                                      Response:                                                                               62 to 67 days averaging about 59 to 63                                         after start of                                                                               days after start of bud                                          bud                                                                   Foliage                                                                        Size:    average length                                                                               5-3/8 to 8 inches long                                           5-1/2 inches                                                                   average width 2-1/2 to 5 inches wide                                           3-1/2 inches                                                          Quantity:                                                                               30 leaves/3   approx. 10% additional                                           feet of stem  leaves per unit of stem                                                        length                                                  Texture: leathery and  same                                                             slightly glossy                                                       Stem                                                                           Diameter:                                                                               av. 4/16 inch generally about 1/16 inch                                                      larger                                                  Length:  42-52 inches  generally about 2-3 inches                                       when provided shorter with same long-day                                       3 weeks of long-                                                                             photoperiodic treatment                                          day photoperiodic                                                              treatment                                                             Blossom                                                                        Form:    incurved      incurved                                                Form change                                                                    upon                                                                           maturation:                                                                             none          petal reflexing                                         Size:    depth - 2-3/4 depth - 3-1/4 to 5 inches                                        to 5 inches                                                                    diameter - 4-1/2                                                                             diameter - 5-1/4 to 6-1/2                                        to 6-1/2 inches                                                                              inches                                                  Shape:   globular      globular                                                Color:   155B          155B                                                    ______________________________________                                     

I claim:
 1. A selection of the chrysanthemum variety "Dignity" substantially as herein shown and described, characterized by its 2-3 inches shorter stem length (when provided 3 long-day weeks of photoperiodic treatment), 15 to 20% larger leaf size, approximately 10% shorter internodes, 2 to 4 days earlier flowering response, reflexing of ray florets upon full bloom maturation, approximately 1/16 inch larger stem diameter and approximately 15% larger bloom size compared to the standard "Dignity" plant. 